What Does 2 Samuel 13:3 Mean in the King James?
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Jonadab’s sharp perception is called wisdom, but its moral character depends on the counsel it serves.
THE MEANING
This verse names a danger that remains present: a trusted companion can read another person closely and turn that insight into influence. Skillfulness alone does not make counsel good; its direction shows what it serves.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that a close friend who understands you is automatically safe to trust.
THE ROOT
חָכָם
chākām
GROWS FROM
חכם
To be wise or skilled.
The same root can describe wisdom as a capacity without promising that it serves what is good. Here, “subtil” catches its sharp, tactically astute edge; the question is what that acuity serves.
ALSO GROWS
chokhmāh: Wisdom, skill, or practical understanding.
חָכְמָה
It shows that this root names an ability whose purpose depends on how it is used.
chakamim: Wise or skilled people.
חֲכָמִים
The plural applies the same capacity to people: discernment can shape their counsel, for good or harm.
יְהוֹנָדָב
Yehonadav
GROWS FROM
נדב
To be willing, volunteer, or give freely; the name means “YHWH is generous” or “YHWH is willing.”
Jonadab’s name carries the language of generosity and willingness beside the verse’s description of his acuity. As his counsel unfolds, that generous-sounding name sharpens the tension between a name’s meaning and the purpose a person’s skill serves.
ALSO GROWS
nadiv: Noble, generous, or willing.
נָדִיב
It shares the name’s root and brings its language of generosity into view.
nedavah: A voluntary gift or freewill offering.
נְדָבָה
It shows the root’s connection to freely offered giving, making the name’s contrast with harmful counsel more pointed.
THE PATTERN
A person’s wisdom is revealed by the purposes their counsel advances.
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.THE THREAD
And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.The next verse makes the adjective concrete: Jonadab supplies Amnon with a rehearsed pretext to get Tamar alone. It shows how a close companion’s intelligence can organize violence before the violence itself occurs.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us